Repression is bad for your health

And liberal democracy is a pretty decent predictor of health. A quick look at the most recent life expectancy figures might confirm this conclusion.

WHO: Japan, San Marino top life-expectancy list

No mistake why countries like Zimbabwe and Sierre Leone, two of the more violent and repressive countries in the world, are at the bottom of these figures and countries like Japan and San Marino, the latter being the oldest constitutional republic in the world, top the list.

Liberal democrats (meaning those who support freedom and democratic values and government) need to take time to remember that we have much more in common in our values, which make for better lives, than we have different.

This is as good as a time as any.